Chain door fastener

ABSTRACT

A chain door fastener includes a door mounted bracket slotted to receive a link of a link chain fixed to a jamb mounted bracket, the slot being so configured as to prevent simple lifting of the link out of the slot and to prevent removal of the link from the slot while the chain is under tension.

United States Patent 1 Banse CHAIN DOOR FASTENER [75] Inventor: George Banse, Rock Falls, Ill.

[73] Assignee: National Manufacturing Co., Sterling, Ill.

[22] Filed: Aug. 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 171,977

[52] US. Cl. 292/264 [5l] Int. Cl. E05c 17/36 [58] Field of Search 292/264, DIG. 13;

70/93; 24/2305 TP, 230.5 CR, 230.5 R,

230.5 Ll-l, 116 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,134,252 5/1964 Mintz 70/93 [111 3,738,694 June 12, 1973 2,036,679 4/1936 Bourn 292/264 2,076,605 4/1937 West 292/264 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l,l55,l57 6/1969 Great Britain 292/264 226,648 10/1958 Australia 292/264 464,333 l/l9l4 France 24/2305 TP Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe Attorney-Raymond E. Fidler, Edmond T. Patnaude and Robert M. Lazo [57] ABSTRACT A chain door fastener includes a door mounted bracket slotted to receive a link of a link chain fixed to a jamb mounted bracket, the slot being so configured as to prevent simple lifting of the link out of the slot and to prevent removal of the link from the slot while the chain is under tension.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENIwmu 2 INVENTOR B GEORGE BAA/3E ATTORNEYS CHAIN DOOR FASTENER The present invention relates in general to chain door fasteners, and it relates more particularly to a new and improved fastener wherein a selected one of several links of the chain is easily attachable to the door plate but can only be removed by manipulating the attached link through a plurality of positions, which manipulations cannot be performed while the chain is under ten- SIOII.

Various chain door fasteners are known. in the prior art and generally incorporate an elongated door plate member mounted horizontally on the stile of the door, and a chain and connector fastened to the door jamb horizontally adjacent to the door plate member. Such fasteners are relatively expensive to manufacture and are only usable with doors having relatively wide stiles. It would, however, be desirable to provide a safety door fastener usable with doors having narrow stiles and which is less expensive to manufacture yet as effective as the prior art types to prevent opening of the door from the side opposite the fastener. Moreover, it would be desirable to provide a chain door fastener for use with sliding and other doors having relatively narrow stiles.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved chain door fastener.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved chain door fastener which cannot be opened while the chain is under tension.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved chain door fastener which may be used with doors having relatively narrow stiles.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved chain door fastener wherein the effective length of the chain is selectable by the user.

Briefly, the above and further objects may be realized in accordance with the present invention by providing a door mounted member having an irregularly shaped latching slot requiring multiple manipulations of the latched link in order to remove it from the slot and also having a camming notch for camming the latched link into a substantially non-movable position when the chain is under tension. The door mounted member and the slotare so dimensioned as to permit intermediate ones of the chain links to be latched therein thereby to adjust the effective length of the chain.

Further objects and advantages and a better understanding of the invention may be had from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chain door fastener embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the door mounted latching plate shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing the chain in a taut condition; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of 'a metal stamping prior to bending into the latching plate configuration shown in FIGS. l4.

Referring now to the drawing, a chain door fastener embodying the present invention comprises as its three principal elements a door mounted bracket member 11 secured by a plurality of screws 12 to the stile ofa door 13; a jamb mounted bracket 14 secured by a plurality of screws 15 to the door jamb l6 horizontally opposite to the bracket 11; and a link chain 17 fixedly secured at one end to the jamb bracket 14 and removably connected to the door bracket 11. The chain 17 is made up of a plurality of interlocked flat links, and the effective length of the chain 17 may be varied by the user inasmuch as either the end link of the chain or an intermediate link thereof may be connected to the door bracket 11 as desired. Hence, the extent to which the door 10 may be opened relative to the jamb 16 with the chain in place between the brackets 11 and 14 is adjustable and under the control of the user.

The door bracket 11 is preferably formed of a single metal plate die cut and formed to include a pair of coplanar mounting flanges 18 and 19 each being provided with a pair of apertures through which the screws 12 extend, and a generally planar, rectangular body portion 20 extending transverse to the plane of the door 13. A latching slot is provided in the body portion 20 of the door bracket 11 and includes an upper horizontal section 23 opening at the outer edge of the body portion 20 and connecting adjacent to the flanges l8 and 19 with a vertical section 24 which in turn connects with a forwardly extending latching section 25. The latching section 25 includes an enlarged forward end including an upper recess 26 defined at-its rearward side by a camming surface 27 which extends upwardly and outwardly at an angle of about 60 from the vertical and terminates at the bottom of the rear slot section 24. The slot sections 23 and 24 are slightly wider than the thickness of the links making up the chain 17 to permit movement of a link therethrough. The lower edge of the slot section 23 is spaced from the bottom edge of the body portion 20 by a distance exceeding the internal length of the chain links and the slot 24 is spaced from the forward edge of the body portion 20 by a distance slightly less than the internal length of the links whereby a link can be inserted into the latching notch only by being positioned in a substantially horizontal direction and inserted through the slot portion 23 and down through the rear slot portion 24 into the latching portion 25 of the slot. A link which is thus latched in the slot can only be removed therefrom by first being manipulated into a substantially horizontal position as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 3. The surface of the enlarged slot portion 26 is spaced from the lower distal corner of the body portion 20 by a distance exceeding the internal length of the links so that while a latched link is in engagement with the cam surface 27, as would occur if the latch link were to be simply elevated, the link cannot be rotated into the horizontal position whereby removal from the slot is impossible. The distance between the lower forward corner of the slot portion 25 and the outward lower distal corner of the body portion 20 is, of course, less than the internal length of the links and is preferably less than that distance plus the thickness of the links whereby intermediate links may be easily placed in the latching notch.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, a camming recess 28 is provided in the bottom edge of the body portion 20 directly below the forward portion of the latching slot section 25 so that when the chain 17 is brought under tension as, for example, by opening the door 13, the latched link is automatically cammed into the horizontal position, as illustrated in FIG. 4, with the plane of the link in parallel with the plane of the flanges l8 and 19. The distance between the top surface of the notch 28 and the bottom of the slot section 25 is slightly less than the internal width of a link so that when the chain 17 is taut, the latched link is substantially immovable relative to the door bracket 11.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a stamped out metallic blank 31 from which the door bracket 11 may be made by bending the sides of the blank 31 back along the center line 32 and then forwardly along the lines 33 and 34. The sharp edges should, of course, be chamfered particularly around the notch 28 and the lower edges of the slot section 25 to insure a proper camming action when the chain 17 is brought under tension.

The jamb bracket 14 may be similarly manufactured by stamping a metal blank having apertures therein for receiving the screws 15 and then bending the narrow central section 35 to provide a rearwardly facing recess 36 for receiving the end link and an upwardly extending portion 37 defining a hook 38 on its upper surface for receiving the end link of the chain 17 for storage of 20 the chain when the chain fastener is not in use,

It may thus be seen that there isprovided in accordance with the teachings of the present invention a chain door fastener for securing a door to a door jamb while permitting some relative movement between the door and the door jamb whether the door moves in the plane of the door jamb or in a direction substantially transverse thereto. The door bracket 11 is relatively narrow and may, therefore, be secured to doors having relatively narrow stiles. Moreover, when fastened, the chain cannot be removed by means of a thin shim or the like placed between the door and the door jamb and lifted vertically since substantial manipulation of the latched link is required in order to remove it from the latching slot. Moreover, when the door is opened a sufficient amount so that some kind of tool might be inserted between the door and the-door jamb to grasp and manipulate the latched link, the link is then locked in the horizontal position illustrated in FIG. 4 where it cannot be manipulated.

While the present invention has been described in connection with particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood that those skilled in the art may make many changes and modifications without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A chain door fastener of the type including a first member having a link chain fixed thereto and a bracket to which the chain may be removably secured, the improvement residing in said bracket and comprising a mounting flange and a slotted chain receiving body portion extending transversely thereto,

said body portion having therein an irregular slot having a width exceeding the thickness of the links of said chain,

said slot having a first section extending in a substantially horizontal direction and opening onto the outer edge of said body portion to permit insertion of a chain link through said first section only when said link is in a substantially horizontal position, and

a second horizontal slot section disposed below said first section for supporting said link in a generally vertical position. I

2. A chain door fastener according to claim 1 wherein said first section of said slot is spaced from the bottom edge of said body portion by a distance exceeding the maximum internal dimension of said links.

3. A chain door fastener according to claim 2 wherein said links are elongated,

said second section is spaced from the bottom edge of said chain receiving portion by a distance exceeding the internal widths of said links, and

a camming notch is provided in said bottom edge of said body portion for camming a link disposed in said slot into a horizontal position transverse to said chain receiving portion when said chain is pulled taut.

4. A chain door fastener according to claim 1 wherein said links are elongated, and

said second section of said slot has an upper surface portion spaced from the bottom edge of said chain receiving body portion by a distance exceeding the internal length of said links to prevent manipulation of a link from the vertical to the horizontal position while engaged with said upper surface.

5. A chain door fastener according to claim 4 wherein said slot comprises a vertical section interconnecting said first and second sections.

6. A chain door fastener according to claim 5 comprising a cam surface interconnecting said upper surface portion of said second section with said vertical section for camming a link against said upper surface portion when said link is elevated against said cam surface.

7. A chain door fastener according to claim 5 wherein said vertical section of said slot is spaced from said outer edge of said body portion by a distance less than the internal length of said links and greater than the internal width of said links.

8. A chain door fastener according to claim 1 wherein said first member to which said chain is fixed comprises an integral member having upper and lower mounting flanges and a narrow section interconnecting said flanges,

said narrow section having a width less than the internal dimension of the links of said chain and being formed to provide a recess on one side and a hook on the other side for receiving one of said links when said fastener is not in use,

the end link of said chain surrounding and being fixedly secured to said narrow section, and

said recess being deeper than the thickness of said end link.

9. A chain door fastener according to claim 8 wherein said first member is formed of metal and folded back on itself at the location of said hook.

10. A chain door fastener according to claim 1 wherein said bracket is an integral metallic member, and

said chain receiving portion comprises an intermediate portion of said integral metallic member bent back on itself,

whereby said distal edge is a rounded surface and said chain receiving portion is twice the thickness of said integral metallic member.

w w v t r 

1. A chain door fastener of the type including a first member having a link chain fixed thereto and a bracket to which the chain may be removably secured, the improvement residing in said bracket and comprising a mounting flange and a slotted chain receiving body portion extending transversely thereto, said body portion having therein an irregular slot having a width exceeding the thickness of the links of said chain, said slot having a first section extending in a substantially horizontal direction and opening onto the outer edge of said body portion to permit insertion of a chain link through said first section only when said link is in a substantially horizontal position, and a second horizontal slot section disposed below said first section for supporting said link in a generally vertical position.
 2. A chain door fastener according to claim 1 wherein said first section of said slot is spaced from the bottom edge of said body portion by a distance exceeding the maximum internal dimension of said links.
 3. A chain door fastener according to claim 2 wherein said links are elongated, said second section is spaced from the bottom edge of said chain receiving portion by a distance exceeding the internal widths of said links, and a camming notch is provided in said bottom edge of said body portion for camming a link disposed in said slot into a horizontal position transverse to said chain receiving portion when said chain is pulled taut.
 4. A chain door fastener according to claim 1 wherein said links are elongated, and said second section of said slot has an upper surface portion spaced from the bottom edge of said chain receiving body portion by a distance exceeding the internal length of said links to prevent manipulation of a link from the vertical to the horizontal position while engaged with said upper surface.
 5. A chain door fastener according to claim 4 wherein said slot comprises a vertical section interconnecting said first and second sections.
 6. A chain door fastener according to claim 5 comprising a cam surface interconnecting said upper surface portion of said second section with said vertical section for camming a link against said upper surface portion when said link is elevated against said cam surface.
 7. A chain door fastener according to claim 5 wherein said vertical section of said slot is spaced from said outer edge of said body portion by a distance less than the internal length of said links and greater than the internal width of said links.
 8. A chain door fastener according to claim 1 wherein said first member to which said chain is fixed comprises an integral member having upper and lower mounting flanges and a narrow section interconnecting said flanges, said narrow section having a width less than the internal dimension of the links of said chain and being formed to provide a recess on one side and a hook on the other side for receiving one of said links when said fastener is not in use, the end link of said chain surrounding and being fixedly secured to said narrow section, and said recess being deeper than the thickness of said end link.
 9. A chain door fastener according to claim 8 wherein said first member is formed of metal and folded back on itself at the location of said hook.
 10. A chain door fastener according to claim 1 wherein said bracket is an integral metallic member, and said chain receiving portion comprises an intermediate portion of said integral metallic member bent back on itself, whereby said distal edge is a rounded surface and said chain receiving portion is twice the thickness of said integral metallic member. 